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Parts of the Process —
Make Time! Introducing the 2019–20 Lecture in Progress Year Planner

With the dawn of yet another new academic year, comes the need for a wall planner to help organise it all. This year, we’re thrilled to have collaborated with designer Sun Young Oh on the design of our annual wall planner, supported by G . F Smith. One of the many entrants who submitted work as part of our open call for submissions, Sun Young’s style immediately stood out for its innovative processes and inimitable style. We sat down with her to find out more about her approach to the project, and discover how she organises her own time.

The finished planner

Designing a wall planner for everyoneA recent graduate of Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design’s communication design course, Berlin-based designer Sun Young Oh proved the perfect match in our search for a planner designer. Having made a planner each year for herself, Sun Young was inspired to take on the project as an opportunity to create one for everyone.

Often using humour, playfulness and an analytic approach in her work, Sun Young’s wall planner design is no different. Initially inspired by dot-to-dot visuals and architectural drawings, her aim was to be create a planner that could be used in a whole new way. The result is a wall planner that is not overly-designed, so that it could function as one “that people can complete themselves.”

Snapshots of the design process

Snapshots of the design process

Snapshots of the design process

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The Design Process

Drawing on past experienceIn the past, Sun Young used planners somewhat differently. Rather than sketching out a linear schedule for the day, she would prioritise a sense of play – including “entertaining tasks, for instance writing down the days only in hashtags, or the day’s feeling in one word.”

Playing within structureThis was something Sun Young wanted to apply to the design of our wall planner, too. Adding in elements that encouraged doodling in addition to the planner’s original use was inspired by everything from cross stitch patterns, Nonograms, dot-to-dot games and architectural drawings. “[They] reminded me how drawings can be applied in a structural and mathematical system,” she told us. This way, imaginative mark-making could be encouraged within a predetermined grid, or, as Sun Young puts it, “play that included structure.”

Exploring different colour options

“Usually when you have to design something,” says Sun Young, “your task is to fill it in. In this case, there should be only essential elements so the user can fill it in and complete it.” Because of this, for Sun Young, the process was more like product design rather than graphic design because of the greater emphasis on practicality.

“The aim,” Sun Young concludes, “is that people will make the planners into their own drawings, using the dot-to-dot in their own unique way, resulting in each one having different drawings on the planner at the end of the academic year.”

Final words of wisdomWhen asked for her top tips on managing time, Sun Young suggests doing it in a way that suits you best. “In my case, I focus on a specific block, and use the time relatively freely within that period,” she notes. “And in the meantime, I do unplanned spontaneous things.”

If you’d like to receive a wall planner and are currently studying, you can request these by asking your tutor to get in touch via [email protected]. If you’re a paying member, you will be receiving on of these in the post soon. Just check here to make sure you’re delivery address is up-to-date.

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